Cecily Brown, Skulldiver IV, 2006-2007, Oil on linen, 85 x 89 inches
Cecily Brown is painting more porn and that’s a good thing. In 2002, she presented a number of reasonable, but uninspiring landscapes uptown, though by the time 2006 rolled around, admittedly she seemed to be getting a little better with the subject matter. (Unfortunately Cecily Brown: New Paintings was held in London, so my evaluation of the later work is suspect since it’s entirely based on jpgs.)
Preamble aside, the new work, while inconsistent maintains the powerful paint as cum metaphor she became so well known for in the late 90’s. Even when the paintings aren’t fully resolved I find myself letting it go: if sex isn’t perfect, why should these pieces perform any differently? Her small to mid sized paintings are considerably less successful than the larger works. The more abstract landscapey the work becomes — and all the small paintings are like this — the more confined it feels. There are also far too many of these works hung in the show. Untitled 92, and Untitled 84 appear reasonably successful on the Gagosian website for example, but are virtually indistinguishable from one another in the exhibition. Needless to say, it wasn’t a good idea to run ten of those paintings in a row.
Generally speaking, Brown’s most successful recent works are those with a few areas of broader brushwork. New Face In Hell in particular provides a much needed resting place for the eye after so many busy surfaces. Unfortunately for gallery goers, if you missed her show at Gagosian this Saturday, you’ll not get to see it. It closed that day.
{ 9 comments }
just wanted to say…i love your blog and your column. you inspire!
just wanted to say…i love your blog and your column. you inspire!
They show looked they were trying to accomodate any buyer type and size as possible. I was very surprised to see soo many small works on the wall.
Her previous show the paintings were quite large and strong. In this show the strong ones seemed buried with the quantity of weak ones.
They show looked they were trying to accomodate any buyer type and size as possible. I was very surprised to see soo many small works on the wall.
Her previous show the paintings were quite large and strong. In this show the strong ones seemed buried with the quantity of weak ones.
I feel that since Brown’s subject matter never changes, and the way she applies the paint pretty much never changes, her content is 12 years old and boring. I was struck by the first big painting on the right when you walk in, and I did like it, but I also like the Ikea rug I bought. This work is all commercial and it does nothing for me. I know she has something else in her too. It was such a shock to see her early more representational-but-still-pushing-abstraction figurative scrnes (at the MFA in Boston a couple years ago). I just wish she would try something else. Good luck
This is Taylor again. I just want to say now that I love Cecily’s work and I think I was a little harsh on her before. Tried to get my comment removed this website denied me HARD. Anyways, I <3 Cecily!
I feel that since Brown’s subject matter never changes, and the way she applies the paint pretty much never changes, her content is 12 years old and boring. I was struck by the first big painting on the right when you walk in, and I did like it, but I also like the Ikea rug I bought. This work is all commercial and it does nothing for me. I know she has something else in her too. It was such a shock to see her early more representational-but-still-pushing-abstraction figurative scrnes (at the MFA in Boston a couple years ago). I just wish she would try something else. Good luck
I am so disappointed I missed this. Judging from the Gagosian website her ‘New Face in Hell’ looked particularly interesting.
Great blog btw.
Rebecca
I am so disappointed I missed this. Judging from the Gagosian website her ‘New Face in Hell’ looked particularly interesting.
Great blog btw.
Rebecca
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